{"title":"Richard Denniss","description":"\u003cp\u003eRichard Denniss offers sharp and insightful explorations into contemporary issues surrounding economics, society, and politics. His works blend wit with critical analysis, inviting readers to question prevailing narratives and public policy with clarity and humour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining elements of \u003cem\u003eself-help\u003c\/em\u003e, political critique, and thoughtful commentary, Denniss’s books engage with the forces shaping our world and encourage a deeper understanding of the challenges and contradictions we face today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"econobabble-by-richard-denniss-9781760643225","title":"Econobabble","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fully updated and expanded edition of Richard Denniss's clear, witty guide to understanding political jargon about the economy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEconomics is like a tyre lever - it can be used to solve a problem, or to beat someone over the head.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is econobabble? We hear it every day, when politicians and commentators use incomprehensible economic jargon to dress up their self-interest as the national interest, to make the absurd seem inevitable or the inequitable seem fair. This book exposes the stupid arguments, bizarre contradictions, and complete lack of evidence upon which much 'common sense' about the economy rests in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEconobabble\u003c\/em\u003e is for those who, deep down, have never believed that it makes sense, economic or otherwise, to help poor people by slashing public spending on the services they need. It's for those who have a sneaking suspicion that it would be cheaper to avoid the effects of climate change than to let them happen and then 'adapt'. And it's for those who think pitting public health and aged care against the economy is a false dilemma, one that's short-sighted, callous, and potentially dangerous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this new edition, Richard Denniss demolishes the tired and misleading arguments of right-wing economic 'experts' with humour and precision, empowering you to cut through the babble and reach the truth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46354744738028,"sku":"9781760643225","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/23819193482814.jpg?v=1744287811"},{"product_id":"affluenza-by-richard-denniss-9781741146714","title":"Affluenza","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur houses are bigger than ever, but our families are smaller. Our kids go to the best schools we can afford, but we hardly see them. We've got more money to spend, yet we're further in debt than ever before. What is going on?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Western world is in the grip of a consumption binge that is unique in human history. We aspire to the lifestyles of the rich and famous at the cost of family, friends and personal fulfilment. Rates of stress, depression and obesity are up as we wrestle with the emptiness and endless disappointments of the consumer life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAffluenza\u003c\/i\u003e pulls no punches, claiming our whole society is addicted to overconsumption. It tracks how much Australians overwork, the growing mountains of stuff we throw out, the drugs we take to 'self-medicate' and the real meaning of 'choice'. Fortunately, there is a cure. More and more Australians are deciding to ignore the advertisers, reduce their consumer spending and recapture their time for the things that really matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss at the Australia Institute never disappoint; they set out on paths others don't go down, then explore without fear or favour and finally draw conclusions about modern Australia, warts and all. It's all accompanied by passion which is why the results cannot be ignored.\" - Geraldine Doogue, ABC broadcaster\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Fascinating at the same time a call to arms and a chill-pill, \u003ci\u003eAffluenza\u003c\/i\u003e challenges not just individuals, but society itself.\" - Adam Spencer, comedian, mathematician and radio DJ\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46541645775084,"sku":"9781741146714","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25454613482807.jpg?v=1749686462"},{"product_id":"big-by-richard-denniss-9781922633033","title":"Big","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScott Morrison wants to spend a lot more money on defence, the business community wants more spending on infrastructure and education, an ageing population wants better health and aged care, and young Australians want more action on climate change and affordable housing. Each problem requires more public spending, but for decades Australians have been told that the less government spends, the better their lives will be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFurthermore, while spending more money will be essential to fund more submarines, aged-care nurses and infrastructure, money alone will not solve the problems faced by Australia. Decades of declining standards of accountability and transparency, of privatisation, deregulation and tax cuts, combined with a lack of energy in strengthening the positive role of government, have led to apathy among the public and parliamentarians. We have allowed our public institutions to shrink and atrophy, and our creativity to wane in choosing not just which services government should provide but how best to provide them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a clear alternative: follow the lead of the Nordic countries in the provision of great public health, education, housing and infrastructure, and in doing so boost economic productivity and deliver higher standards of living at lower cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is time to jettison the obsession with the 'unfinished reform agenda' of the 1990s, to consider the breadth and depth of the new challenges confronting Australia, and to chart a course in which governments take more responsibility for solving the problems that will dominate Australian lives in the years ahead. We must abandon decades of denial that the public sector can play a bigger and better role in improving our lives. To build the bigger government these times demand, we must first abandon the baggage of the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBig\u003c\/em\u003e by Richard Denniss explores these themes and proposes a path forward for Australia, urging a reconsideration of the role of government in tackling contemporary challenges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848544506092,"sku":"9781922633033","price":68.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14741453482872.jpg?v=1758985990"},{"product_id":"dead-centre-by-richard-denniss-9781763662148","title":"Dead Centre","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sensible centre. Evidence-based policy. These are not the same. In fact, they are at odds with each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe scientific evidence tells us that building new gas, oil, and coal mines will cause catastrophic climate damage this century. Yet politicians describe a call for the end of new mines as extreme. Likewise, with online gambling, junk food advertising, or incarcerating children, the evidence of harm is clear, but the sensible centre is defined not by evidence but by politics. Media reports on such issues presuppose that there are two sides and a centre to every debate, but evidence shows there is not. The political right thrives in such fear-fuelled, fact-free arenas, where traditional media and subject matter experts struggle to fight fear with facts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this essay, economist and Executive Director of The Australia Institute Richard Denniss explores the contradiction between centrism and evidence that sits at the heart of democratic debate in Australia. He shows that when both major parties oppose reform, the position of the sensible centre becomes indistinguishable from blind support for keeping things as they are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848935821548,"sku":"9781763662148","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25922633482815.jpg?v=1759004598"},{"product_id":"more-fool-me-by-richard-denniss-9781764220569","title":"More Fool Me","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia's history, and we're living with the consequences. Australia is one of the richest countries in the world, yet we have been made to feel so poor that we no longer even expect the high quality, freely available public schools and hospitals we used to have. While we are told we can't afford to have good services, Australian governments give away billions of dollars worth of gas, for free, to multinational companies every year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the price of oil surges, Saudis feel rich. When the price of gas surges, Qataris and Norwegians feel rich. But in Australia, when the price of gas surges around the world, we are told we must tighten our belts to cope with surging electricity prices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuccessive governments have given away our gas to foreign companies for free and excused them from paying tax—then asked us to say thank you when companies choose to do business in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this essay, Richard Denniss pulls back the curtain to show how the gas companies performed a long con in Australia and spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47650135572716,"sku":"9781764220569","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781764220569-more-fool-me.jpg?v=1779314917"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/richard-denniss.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}